B2idiominformalmoneyIELTS-friendly
work for peanuts
USUK
to work for very little money
'Peanuts' alone means a very small amount of money: 'They pay peanuts.' The saying 'If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys' means low pay attracts poor workers.
In context
Many interns work for peanuts in the hope of getting a full-time job.
I worked for peanuts at that agency, but I learnt a lot.
Common mistake
Incorrect: My cousin works for peanut at a café.
Correct: My cousin works for peanuts at a café.
More idioms about money
- a cash cowa product or business that steadily makes a lot of money
- a false economya way of saving money that ends up costing more later
- a gold minea business or thing that makes a lot of money, or a rich source of something
- a golden handshakea large sum of money paid to someone when they leave a job
- a money pitsomething, often a house or car, that costs you much more money than it is worth